Ground Scans Conducted at Controversial Charleston Site
A second round of ground-penetrating radar scans was conducted at the site of a controversial proposed dormitory on Coming Street in Charleston. The scans were performed to analyze the subsurface conditions of the asphalt. The specific nature of the controversy surrounding the development was not detailed in the report.
- The proposed dormitory site at 106 Coming Street is situated on a former public burial ground from the late 18th century, known as the "Strangers and Negroes Burying Ground." - It is estimated that between 4,600 and 12,000 individuals were buried on the site, including enslaved and free Black people, impoverished individuals, travelers, and orphans. - The College of Charleston's plans to build a multi-story dormitory on this location have been met with significant opposition from community members and preservation groups. - A coalition named "Protect and Respect the Bodies" has formed, advocating for the site to be honored and memorialized rather than developed for student housing. - The property was purchased by the College of Charleston in June 2024 to address a lack of on-campus housing, a move that was not unanimously approved by the college's board of trustees. - An initial round of ground-penetrating radar scans conducted in the past proved to be inconclusive in determining the presence of human remains under the existing asphalt parking lot. - In addition to being a burial ground, the site is also the former location of the YWCA of Greater Charleston, a landmark of the Civil Rights Movement that hosted figures like Septima Clark and Coretta Scott King. - Community suggestions for the site include transforming it into a memorial green space to honor the thousands of individuals interred there.
